Dear All,
I have just started an MRes with Fera and the University of Exeter. We are trying to provide proof of concept for stable isotope analysis as a forensic tool for distinguishing between captive-bred tortoises and wild tortoises that may have been imported illegally. Hopefully, in the future, this will be used as a tool for regulating the trade in tortoises.
At the moment the three species I am looking at are Testudo graeca, T. horsfieldii and T. hermanni. I will be taking very small samples (5mg or less) from the carapace, and potentially also claws, of individuals with a known history: both captive bred and wild. I have access to dead on arrival specimens at Heathrow but I would like to get samples from i) animals that were definitely captive bred in the UK remained resident in the UK, ii) animals that were resident in the UK for a known period but that were imported and iii) wild specimens with known origin.
If you have specimens that you would be willing for me to take samples from please contact me. Any help with this would be gratefully received.
Best Regards,
Emma
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Emma Wood
Centre for Ecology and Conservation
University of Exeter
Cornwall Campus, Penryn
Cornwall, TR10 9EZ, U.K.
Tel: 07597008327
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
http://biosciences.exeter.ac.uk/staff/postgradresearch/emmawood/
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